02/20/2026
Cancer treatment can bring significant pain, fatigue, mood changes, and emotional strain.
A randomized crossover study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies examined whether Healing Touch (HT) and therapeutic massage could help ease chemotherapy-related symptoms. Adults undergoing chemotherapy received HT, massage, presence-only care, and standard care at different points, allowing each participant to serve as their own control.
Both Healing Touch and massage were associated with significant reductions in pain, fatigue, and mood disturbance, along with improvements in vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. These improvements were greater than those seen with presence-only care or standard care alone.
This study does not suggest HT or massage treats cancer or alters disease progression. It suggests these gentle, non-invasive therapies may offer meaningful, immediate relief from common chemotherapy-related symptoms and support comfort and quality of life during treatment.
🔗 Read the full study:
https://www.chi.is/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/LutgendorfHTpaper.pdf